Author: Sanjib Chakraborty
Publication: The Statesman
Date: April 24, 2008
The CPI-M has allegedly unleashed a reign
of terror in Sasan area near Barasat in North 24-Parganas just before the
panchayat elections, forcing 12 Trinamul Congress candidates to withdraw their
nomination papers till Tuesday. The man behind all the terror tactics is allegedly
none other than Majid Master, a CPI-M strongman in the area.
The rest of the TMC candidates, who had filed
their nomination papers as gram panchayat candidates, had to flee from their
homes after facing both physical and mental torture, allegedly from CPI-M
party cadres. TMC leaders also said their family members were tortured and
their houses were ransacked and looted, after goons, allegedly backed by the
CPI-M, didn't find them at home.
TMC leaders held Majid Master, a CPI-M leader,
responsible for all the violence against Trinamul candidates and their family
members. They said
such muscle flexing and terror tactics have
heightened at various places in Sasan since last Sunday. Majid Master, who
is well known for his strong arm tactics before every election, has a simple
way of functioning. He ensures that all Opposition candidates either withdraw
their nominations or fail to put up any posters or campaigns for their contest.
Interestingly, Majid Master, himself is a candidate in a Zilla Parishad seat.
But rumours are doing the rounds that the nomination paper of Majid could
be rejected due to a spelling mistake.
Trinamul leaders suspect that irked by such
rumours, the CPI-M strongman has directed his cadres to terrorise all Opposition
candidates prior to the polls. "Two of our candidates were abducted from
their home this morning. They were later forced to sign on a blank paper to
withdraw their nomination paper. Police stood as mute spectators," alleged
Mr Jyotipriya Mallick, Trinamul Congress observer for North 24-Parganas.
Mr Mallick also said earlier 10 candidates,
including Mrs Sandhya Bauri, Mr Kanchan Biswas from Kasempur gram panchayat,
Mr Pradip Ghosh, an independent candidate backed by the TMC from Dakshin Bahira
Kalibari, Mr Ramesh Mondal, Mr Ali Soman from Khamar gram panchayat were forced
to sign on blank paper to withdraw their nomination papers.
Some candidates from Kasempur, Beleghata,
Falti, Sasan, Dadpur and Duttapukur-1 areas fled from their homes.
TMC leaders said police are also helping the
CPI-M leaders in their operation to apply such terror tactics. However, Mr
Sugato Sen, ASP (North) said they are helpless as Trinamul candidates are
withdrawing their nomination papers and no complaints have been lodged. Mr
Shyamal Bandhopadhya, members of CPI-M district committee said he had visited
Sasan and did not see any terror tactics there organised by Majid Master.